How good a player was Mark Messier? Where does he rank?

[Dark Shadows]

And here's the thing with Messier. The stat line only tells half the story.

That was also the game where Messier was already in his equipment and rocking back and forth in his stall like an hour or something before puck drop. Several teammates have commented on seeing him there like he was in a trance, and the impression it made on them.

During the game, Roenick (in his bio, which I don't have in front of me so I can't quote directly) said that Mess looked like he was 'breathing fire' and was so intimidating Roenick 'had trouble looking him in the eye'.

Steve Smith on that same performance:



John Muckler:



So yeah. A player who, in a must-win game, fires up his teammates in the dressing room, scores four points, dominates physically, and genuinely intimidates the opposition. That's why he's ranked where he's ranked.

George Johnson of The Calgary Herald
The destruction he could wreak was perhaps never better exhibited than in Game 7 of the 1984 series against the rival Flames.

That night, Messier proved to be a one-man war of attrition, knocking three Calgary players out of action during the decisive third period. Paul Reinhart had long since been stretchered off; Mike Eaves lay crumpled like a discarded cigarette pack in a corner after being run over ("It was as if he got hit by a bus," recalled Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr. "There were tire tracks running up and down his back."); and Al MacInnis exited early after being cut down by a knee injury. All courtesy of one man.

Carnage. Sheer carnage. Messier carnage.

"That Messier!" Flames coach Badger Bob Johnson would growl after that game. "That Messier! He knocked three of our guys out of the game! Three! That was …" He stammered. "That was …" He glowered. "That was …" He paced the hallway, apparently enraged at the injustice of it all. "That was …" His face lapsed into a look above appreciation, arguably approaching awe. "Amazing!"

 

[Trottier]

"That Messier!" Flames coach Badger Bob Johnson would growl after that game. "That Messier! He knocked three of our guys out of the game! Three! That was …" He stammered. "That was …" He glowered. "That was …" He paced the hallway, apparently enraged at the injustice of it all. "That was …" His face lapsed into a look above appreciation, arguably approaching awe. "Amazing!"

Meanwhile, fast-forward 30 years and few on a message board can only deem it "dirty" and other tripe.

Personally, I'll go with the opinion of the late Badger Bob, hockey man.

 

[mrmovies779]

If I had to choose 1 player for a game 7,it would be Messier.He stepped up in the biggest do or die games as well as anyone else,if not better.

His desire/will/hunger(call it what you want)to win was second to none,and he would do anything in his power to achieve it.

 

[bobholly39]

If I had to choose 1 player for a game 7,it would be Messier.He stepped up in the biggest do or die games as well as anyone else,if not better.

His desire/will/hunger(call it what you want)to win was second to none,and he would do anything in his power to achieve it.

I dunno that he'd be my #1 pick by any means - but certainly a very worthy choice for such a setting. No question

 

[AlternateSideParking]

In 1990, Messier single-handedly intimidated the Keenan Blackhawks. From top to bottom. Greatest series performance Ive ever seen, thats for sure.